Coupling device for railway draft cars



June 1 1926.

. 1,587,229 F. w. HENRIKSON COUPLING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY DRAFT CARS Filed August 2, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i iimm June 1 1926.

F. W. HENRIKSON COUPLING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY DRAFT CARS June 1 ,1926. 1,587,229

F. w. HENRIKSON COUPLING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY DRAFT CARS Filed August 2. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1 1926 1,587,229

. F. W. HENRIKSON COUPLING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY DRAFT CARS Filed August 2, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lll .Z' r

d9 F g l f} 7 I ---J m W my I x L ""W M31249} a Patented June 1, 1926 UNE'E'EEE STATES PAI!lilhlil OFFlQ-E.

FRANK W. KENRIKSON, or MULBERRY, KANSAS.

COUPLING DEVI'C-E' For. RAILWAY DRAFT CARS.

Application filed August 2, 1923. Serial 1%. 655,297.

This invention relates to coupling devices tor railway draft cars, and more pflTtTCllhLT- 1y to self-coupling devices for mine cars couple this a man has to reach down for the link and position it on the hook while the car is still in motion. Another type of coupler comprises three lints and two hooks, with a hole in each end of the draw bar. In this form of apparatus, it is necessary to position a hook in each end of the draw har. Still another form comprises one liiiln-a pin and a slot. The pin has to be lifted up by hand, the link pushed in the slot, and then the pin released.

In all these prior ways the couplingoperations are very dangerous and are attendant with. many accidents because the opera tor has to stand between the cars and couple them.

The present invention relates to a novel coupling mechanism which is constructedand arranged so that all coupling and uncoupling operations can be accomplished from the side of the car or from some equally sate position. I I

Still another teature of this invention; is the provision of an effective self-coupling mechanism for use in connection with mine cars or the like, which coupling is capable of considerable lateral swing in order to permit the mine cars to be drawn around the extraordinary sharp curves and bends so common in mine trackage.

A further feature or" the invention resides in the novel arrangement whereby the coupling mechanism is adapted either for the ordinary type or" mine bottoms or for an tomatic mine bottoms. Iii-automatic mine bottoms all loaded cars approach the "from one and the same side of the shaft and the empties which have been hoisted, emptied and lowered are pushed or pumped away from the cage on the opposite side. The tracks for the loaded cars have a steep grade approaching the cage, the railson the cage are level, while the tracks leaving the cage on the empty side also have a steep grade inclined away from the cage. There are automatic safety stops on the loaded tracks so that when thecage'hits the bottom it automatically releases the dog on the empty car on the cage and also the safety stop on the loaded car, which, standing on the steep incline, runs down onto the cage by gravity and pushes the empty oil the cage onto the empty tracks on the opposite side of the cage. When the loaded car is thus positioned, on the cage in place of the former empty, it automatically dogs itself ready for hoisting. This is the well known automatic bottom.

automatic bottoms, the empty tracks and loaded. tracks are always on opposite sides of the cage irrespective of the number of tracks used; furthermore, the empties and loaded cars are pushed onto the cage by hand and all coupling and uncoupling is a manual operation.

The coupling mechanism disclosed in the present invention is adaptable for both au- 'tomatic and the ordinary type of mine bottonisin that it is constructed so that the coupling can take place not only autoniatically self-coupling, and also by hand, but, in addition, the mechanism can be set for noir coupling that is, the cars will not conple when pushed together as ordinarily.

In automatic mine bottoms, a self-coupling car mustbe capable of being set so that it is non coupling'. For instance, when the loaded car' pushes the empty oft the cage, there must be no coupling, otherwise when the cage is hoisted with the loaded car on it, the empty will hang" down from the side of the cage causing awreck. In the present invention, the coupling mechanism is capable of being set for non-coupling so that, when desired, the collision of two cars will not operate the coupling mechanism;

In this connection, another feature of the invention resides in the means for automatically or manually re-setting the self-coupling mechanism, so that the car can self couple, as desired.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from a perusal of the following specification when taken in connection with the acompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of the mine car coupler; I

Fig. 2 is a view on the line 22 thereof;

Fig. 3'is-a plan View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the coupler with the mechanism set for automatic coupling;

Now in ordinary mines and slopes where they do not use gravity or lit Fig. 5 is a view on the line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the latch or trigger operating levers and links.

Fig. 7 is a partly sectional view of the link ejecting mechanism; and

Fig. 8 is a simliar view of the spring arrangement within the plunger for operating the link throw-out.

Referring now to the details of the invention, the mechanism is disclosel in connection with a standard type of railway mine carobviously it has other applications.

In Fig. 1, the mine car 1 i of ordinary type. At the back end or it is provided with a coupling pin adapted to be passed through a link carried by the adjacent car to be coupled. The improved mechanism relates to the means for operating the pin. n its opposite end the car 1 is provided with my improved means for projecting the link outwardly so that a pin on the adjacent car can be passed therethrough for coupling. The pin operating mechanism will be first described in detail.

In one form of the invention, he end sill or bumper 2 of the car is recessed, as at 3, and the cap 1 on the end or the draw bar 5 is recessed, as at 6 and 7, to provide movement for the pin and its shifting mechanism. The pin is adapted to move vertically across the usual slot 7, dapted to receive the end of the link, shown as at 8 in dotted lines. The pin 9 is vertically passed through its registering slots 3 and 6 by means of a lever 10, having a forward toe 11 passing through an aperture 12 in the pin. The rear end 01" the lever is pivoted, as at 13, between spaced supports 1 1 mounted on the upper portion of the cap 4-. At an intermediate point 15, the lever 10 is provided with a connection to a lever litting mechanism. For this purpose there is provided the pivoted loop 16 through which passes a pin litter 17, preferably in the form of a horizontal rod journaled in the spaced back straps 18 and 19. The pin lifter has an intermediate crank 20, which is some what elongated to provide for a sliding movement of the lifter relatively to the loop 16. At each end the litter is provided with crank handles 21 and 22 tor manual operation of the lifter. The pin lever or carrier 10 is provided with a dog or trigger 23, pivoted thereto at Between a toe on the rearmost end of lever 10 and the dog is arranged a coil spring 25 adapted to press the dog forward into locking position. F or this purpose the dog is provided with a notch 26 which engages a stop 27.

lVith such an arrangement, when the crank is angularly shifted to position shown in Figs. 1- and 5, the stirrup or loop 16 is likewise raised to swing lever or carrier 10 about its pivot 13, to thereby lift pin 9. At the same time dog is arcuately swung upwardly so that the upper portion of notch 26 rests on step 2. Spring assists in this operation. In this position the pin is held in upper position and is ready for self-coupling. In self-coupling, when link 8 is projected against the dog or trigger 23, the dog is knocked oil the ledge 27 and the carrier 10 is swung dowmvardly to pass the pin 9 through the link. Unconpling is accomplished by again raising the carrier 1.0, as before. In the uncoupling opera'tlon, the spring 25 kicks the link out or the coupling recess 7. This is due to the fact that when the link presses the dog 23 rearwardly in the coupling operation, it puts spring 25 under compression, forcing lever 10 down. W hen lever is down compression of spring 25 is oil. Raising lever 10 to raise pin 9 compresses spring against dog 23 and kicks out link 8. Then lever 10 is down the compression of spring 25 is oil and when pin is raised spring 25 is compressed.

At times it is desirable to lock he pin in raised position so that automatic or selfcoupling is impossible yet hand coupling can be done. And, preferably, it is desired to provide automatic means for releasing the pin from such a locked position. In one form of the invention this is accomplished by positively holding the pin upwardly so that, even when the dog is actuated, no depression of the pin can take place. To this end, the link lifter 17 is arranged for horizontal sliding movement so that the crank arm 20 will be carried against the loop 16 and will pass or jam the lever 10 against the side of its support so that it is not free to move downwardly. This constitutes a very powerful and eiiective positive locking arrangement.

In order to automatically shil't the pin lifter 17 sidewise, there. provided a link 28 pivoted to the bacl-Istrap 19 at 29. This link has upper and lower portio the l ormer having a slot 30 through which projects a laterally bent arm 31 ot the pin lifter 17. The lower portion of link 23 is perforated to pivotally connect to a rod having a crank 33 journaled, as at 34, on the Sl( e of the car. The other end oi crank 33 is formed as an arm 35, adapted to be shifted outwardly by manual operation, or, if desired, auto1nati cally by a suitable dog or lug. and also to be shifted inwardly by a suitably located dog or lug. In Fig. (i, this latter dog 36 is shown in dotted lines. It is located at a desired point alongside the track, so that, as the car passes, the outwardly projecting arm is pressed inwardly to set the safety lock for the pin lifter, so that automatic Or selfcoupling will take place when desired. It necessary. arm 35 can be moved inwardly at any time by manna .ly shifting the pin litter.

lll)

In the front end of the mine car is provided means for operating the link 8, so that it will be positively projected outwardly for automatically coupling and will be witl'idrawn into inward position after uncouplin so that no harm will be done to the link in the event of a collision. lhis construction provides a disappearing link. As illustrated clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, the d aw bar 5, at the end opposite the pin lifting mechanism, is provided with spaced guides for the link 8. These guides are preferably far enough apart to give considerable lateral movement to the link and further usual coupling pin hole 87 is also provided as an inner guide for the link.

The rear end of link 8 is provided with an arcnate slot or stirrup into whichloosely hooks ahead 39 of a connecting rod 40. End 39 travels in a slot 41 in the draw-bar so that a straight line movement of the link is assured; The inner end of connecting rod is pivoted, as at 412, to a crank 4-3, pivoted at 4 The opposite end of crank 4-.3 has pivoted thereto an operating rod comprising a socket 4L5, pivoted, as at 46, to crank 43, an intermediate rod 47 and a second plunger socket 48. Socket 45 tel'escopingly receives an enlarged head 59 on the inner end of rod e7. Between this head and the inner end of socket 45 is a. spring 50, adapted to be compressed when the rod 47 is pushed in. In normal position, shown in Fig. 8, the spring 50 exerts no tension. Rod at has loose thereon a collar 51, which lies snugly on the other side of cross bar 52, the draw bar 5 being channeled or grooved to receive the rod 47.

A second spring 53 surrounds the outer end of rod 47, lying between the collar 51' and the inner end of a plunger socket 48. By tliisconstruction when the plunger 48 is pushed in the spring 53 is compressed and rod 47 is likewise pushed in to compress spring 50 until su'fiicient tension is reached to also push inwardly the socket 4-5 to actuate the crank 43, rod 40 and link 8, which is projected outwardly. By this construction, it will benoted that the connecting rod 47 is provided with a double spring adapted to operate the link mechanism when the plunger 48 is pushed in, yet in case the link misses the drawhead, the link will be forced back resiliently even'though the plunger is in inward position. Spring keeps the link retracted and spring 50 keeps the plunger projected.

By spacing the guide 36 a sul'l'icient distance from the normal outward path of travel of the link and by providing the arcuate slotted connection between the link 8 and the rod 40, the link 8 is permitted to swing laterally to permit the coupling mechanism to effectively operate as the mine cars travel the sharp bends and returns so prevalent in mine trackage. A pin 54 passing after it has been projected.

through hole 37 provides a guide for the inner walls of the link and permits the facile return of the link to disappearing position This lateral movement of the link must be allowed for because all mine trucks are toward the center of the car and in taking short switches it is compelled to make very sharp curves which throws the end of the car, pulling the link on an angle of thirty-live to forty degrees, so that the end of the car is nearly over the rail. This is the reason that the link must have a circling movement. This construction also permits coupling on an angle.

In the operation of the above described coupling mechanism, it is to be observed that when two cars are bumped together, the plunger 48 is pressed inwardly against the tension of springs 50 and 53. As soon as spring 50 is compressed su'l'ficiently, it forces socket 455 inwardly and shift arm 43 about pivot 4A and projects the link 8 outwardly along guides 36. If link 8 does not register with the link slot in the draw bar ofthe op posed car, then link 8 is harmlessly pressed inwardly against the tension of spring 50. On the other hand, if link 8 strikes the dog or trigger 23, the pin 9 being set in raised )osition, the'link will actuate the trigger and t. 0

drop the pin to complete the coupling. This is so provided the arm 35 has been shifted to an inward position. On the other hand, if the arm is pressed out, which action will take place when the pin is normally lifted by operating the crank arm 21, the crank 20 of pin lifter 17 will be shifted to the left by the action of the arcuate slot 80 on the link 28, which lateral shifting of the crank 20 will press loop 16 sidewise and bind the lever 10 against the side of the support 14 to prevent its free movement. lhis is the locked position of the coupling mechanism-t hat is, it is non-coupling. If the link 8 strikes the dog 23 no niovei'nent of the pin 9 will take place.

However, if the arm is now shiftedmanually inwardly, the pin lifter 1"? will be shifted to the right to release the lever 10 for a subsequent coupling operation. However, if dog 23 is now struck by link 8, the pin will drop and self-coupling or automatic coupling takes place. On raising of the pin again the spring 25, which has been under tension, new acts to kick out the link soon as the'pin clears.

.-t is obvious that the mechanism herei" set forth is but illustrative of the principles of the invention and is not to be construed the only embodiment thereof. And it is not intended to restrict the invention except in sofar as it is limited by the terms of the appended claims as interpreted by the disclosure of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s:

1. ln a device of the class described, a drawhead adapted to receive the link of another car, a pin adapted to be shifted through such link, a member to shift said pin out of engagement with such link, a dog pivoted on said member and extending into the path of such link, said drawhead having means to support said dog and thereby said lever and lir-l in shifted position, and a device to move s ld dog into and maintain it in supported relation with said drawhead means until operated by the link of another car during coupling.

in a device of the class described, a drawhead adapted to receive the link of another car, a pin adapted to be shifted through such link, a member to shift said )in out of engagement with such link, a dog pivoted to said member nd extending into contact with sucii link v. en the latter is in engaging position, and a device to cause said dog to eject vsuch link upon actuation of said n'iember.

in a device of the class described, a drawhead adapted to receive the link of anoth r "er, a pin adapted to be shifted through such link, a member to shift said pin out of engagen'ient with such link, a dog extending into contact with such link when he latter is in engaging position, a spring acting upon said dog to cause ejection of said link, and cooperating means upon said drawhezul and said dog to prevent ejection of said link in the engagen position of said pin therein, said means permitting ejection of such inks at actuation of said member to shift said pin.

in a device of the class described, a (1HYhQRtl adapted to receive the link of another car, a pin adapted to be shifted through such link, a member to shift said pin out of engagen'ient with such link, a dog extending into contact with such link when the latter is in engaging position, a spring act 5 upon said dog to cause ejection of said link, and cooperating means upon said dravvhead and said dog to prevent ejection of said link in the engaged position of said pin therein, said means permitting ejection of such link at actuation of said member to shift the pin and thereafter holding said pin in its shifted position.

In a device of the class described, a drawhead adapted to receive the link of another car, a pin shiftable thereon, alever pivoted at its rear portion to said draWhead and connected at its front portion to said pin, a dog pivoted at a lower intermediate portion of said lever and extending into the path of such link, a loop connected to the upper intermediate portion of said lever, means to raise said loop to shift the pin in one direction, and means to hold the said dog, said lever and said pin in such shifted position, said n'ieans permit-ting the actuation of the dog by such link during coupling to allow shifting of the pin in the opposite direction.

6.111 a device of the class described, a drawhead adapted to receive the link of an other car, a pin shifta-bl-e through such link, a lever pivoted to said drawhead and connccted to said pin, a dog pivoted to said lever, an abutment on said drawhead and a spring to force said dog against said abutment whereby said dog is guided for substantially rectilinear movement during actuation of said lever, an abutment on said dog in engagement with a first face on said abutment on said drawhead when said pin is in engaged position and with a second face of said abutn'ient when said pin is in shifted position, means to move said lever to shift said pin, said dog being rocked upon einent oi such link in the drawhead to psi iit movement of its abutment into engagement with the first face of the drawhead abutment.

7. .ln a device of the class deeribed, a pin, means to shift the pin to desired cou pling and uncoupling positions, means to hold the pin in uncoupled position, devices to release said holding means and adapted to be actuated by the entry of the coupling link of another car into coupling position in said device, and a mechanism to prevent the release of said holding means in spite of actuation of said device when it is not desired to effect the coupling.

A device of the class described comprising a support, a pin shiftable to coupling and uncoupling position, a lever adapted to raise said pin, a dog disposed in the path of the coupling link of another car to hold said lever in raised position and adapted to be contacted by such link to release and permit the depression of said pin into coupling engagement with such link, and means for holding said lever against such depression.

In testimony whereof, I a'tiix my signature.

FRA NK 5V. HENRIKSON. 

